SO NATURAL

SO NATURAL, also written So'Natural, is a Korean makeup and skincare brand. When you search for "so natural" on Google, this is the brand you find here: the one behind the Fixx setting sprays, the Red Peel serums and the So Vegan line. The brand's Korean site sums it up in one simple idea, "skin science" that helps skin find its own strength again. The Korean review platform Hwahae uses the same wording on its brand page.

A note on names: "so natural" is also used by other companies around the world, in food, soap and natural-cosmetics retail. Here we only mean the Korean brand whose products you can see in the So Natural collection.

The So Natural catalogue at Ma Petite Coree is easiest to read through a few names to remember.

• Fixx: the 24H Pore Fixing setting spray, the No-Smudge Magic Sealer, the Pore Adhesion Blur Fit primer and the Prep Fixer bases for eyes and lips, such as the Color Adhesion eye prep and the Lip Setting Adhesion lip prep.
• Sun Fixer: the tone-up sunscreens, including the Sun Fixer tone-up sunscreen.
• Red Peel and Micro Knot: the Red Peel Tingle serum and the Red Peel Spicule serum, and the Micro Knot ampoule, designed around skin texture and pores.
• So Vegan: the Iceplant Water cream, the Sal Butter Glow Layer serum, the Sal Butter Glow toner and the Signature face oil. According to the brand, this line is made without animal-derived ingredients and animal testing.
• Hair: the Fluffy Fringe hair setting spray, the Volume Cover hair cushion and the Style Up baby hair mascara.

The brand also puts ingredients in product names, like iceplant for the So Vegan creams. For the exact formula, always read the product page.

Start with what you need. If your makeup moves during the day, look at the Fixx setting sprays and bases. If you want smoother-looking skin, the Pore Adhesion Blur Fit primer and the Cover Kok Kok concealer are the two products to compare. For more coverage, the Ultra Cover foundation has SPF30 in its name.

If your skin is dry or feels tight, the So Vegan line is made for you: the Iceplant Water cream and the Sal Butter Glow toner are hydrating care, to be read with their product pages. If your skin is oily, pick the products with "Blur" or "Matte" in the name for makeup, and a light cream for care. If your skin is sensitive, always try a new product on a small area, because no brand suits everyone. This is cosmetic advice, not medical advice.

For eyes, the Color Adhesion eye prep goes on before eyeshadow, and for lips the Lip Setting Adhesion lip prep goes on before lipstick. To take off set makeup at night, the Clean Shot cleansing oil is made for that, followed by your usual cleanser as a second step.

To go further, browse by category: makeup, hair care and hair products, sunscreens, serums, moisturizers, eye makeup or lips. If you like Korean makeup, you can also look at Too Cool For School, Rom&nd or 3CE.

The brand is best known for "Fixx", sprays that set makeup. The brand's Korean site puts its Fixx range up front, and the Hwahae brand page also mentions Fixx setting sprays. The Fixx name turns up everywhere: as a spray, but also as bases to apply before makeup, as a mascara or as a cleanser.

Another thing to know: So Natural thinks of makeup in three steps. You prep the skin with a "Prep Fixer" base, you do your makeup, then you set it with a "Setting Fixer". There is a base for the face, one for the eyelids, one for the lips, and even hair products such as the bang fixer.

To discover the brand, the 24H Pore Fixing setting spray is a good place to start if you want a blurred, set finish. The No-Smudge Magic Sealer slips into a bag to set the areas that move. On the skincare side, look at the Red Peel Tingle serum if you want a peeling-style serum, or the Iceplant Water cream for a fresh-textured cream. For hair, the Style Up baby hair mascara tames the small hairs around your face and the Fluffy Fringe hair setting spray holds a fringe in place.

For a bit of everything, build a small trio: a base like the Pore Adhesion Blur Fit primer, a setting spray and a tone-up sunscreen like the Sun Fixer tone-up sunscreen.